Condiment dispenser comprising interlocking figurines



July 17, 1951 R. v. T. BENDEL 5 9 CONDIMENT DISPENSER COMPRISING INTERLOCKING FIGURINES Filed May 6, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR;

' 1611/2 wnzezzm eafiendez v I, w iw July 117, 1951 R. v. T. BENDEL 295609755 CONDIMENT DISPENSER COMPRISING INTERLOCKING FIGURINES Filed May 6, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patentea July 17, 1 951 UNITED CONDIMENT DISPENSER COMPRISING INTERLOCKING FIGURINES Ruth van Tellingen B endel, Westmont, Ill.

Application May 6, 1949, Serial No. 91,769

My invention relates generally to improvements in containers used for dispensing table salt,. celery salt, pepper and other condiments, oil and vinegar, perfumes, powders, and the like. More particularly, my invention relates to containers formed in the shape of figurines and so constructed that a plurality thereof may be handled and used as a single unit; while each container also may be manipulated separately as an entity. By the term figurine, as used in the specification and appended claims, is meant a three-dimensional representation of a human being, an animal, bird, or reptile, or parts thereof.

The criticism most generally leveled against conventional salt and pepper shakers and similar dispenser sets is that they cannot be picked up conveniently with one hand, and if picked up together are likely to slip from ones grasp and fall and be broken or damaged. Also, each dispenser must be handled separately when used to dispense material, since otherwise the proper proportions between salt and pepper, or other combinations of material, cannot be obtained. ,Another disadvantage inherent in the prior art devices stems from the fact that they are apt to fall over and spill out the contents, unless made very large and bulky. These and other disadvantages are obviated by my invention.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide dispensers which may be used separately but are primarily intended to be easily picked up and carried about as a unit or group, using one hand only.

Another object is to provide dispensers which "are adapted to interlocktogether but which have no apparent locking elements, when viewed individually, to mar their artistic appearance.

'Another object of my invention is to provide interlocking means for dispensers which permit the use of large manufacturing tolerances without affecting the interlocking characteristics.

Another object is to provide a set of dispensers or shakers in which the material in the separate dispensers can be dispensed separately even though the dispensers are picked up as a unit.

Another object of my invention is to provide dispensers which, if they are for any reason pushed or shaken so as to fall over, will be disposed to fall in such a way as not to spill any contents thereof.

The foregoing objects are achieved by fashioning each figurine of the set to include one or more outwardly extending-body protuberances, so positioned', proportioned and shaped as to be. ca-

1 Claim. (01. 222-78) pable of interlocking with the remainder of the set. In preferred embodiments of my invention the body protuberances of each figurine take the form of a pair of limbs which extend outwardly and are adapted to embrace complementary portions of the remainder of the set, each of the figurines being further characterized by a concavity or body notch substantially opposite the limbs to facilitate placing the fingers about the set when interlocked together.

In order that my invention may be more fully disclosed, reference is had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several forms of shakers embodying the foregoing and such other principles, advantages or capabilities as may be pointed out as this description proceeds, or as are inherent in the present invention. For purposes of clarity in exposition, the following description is explicit, and the accompanying drawings are detailed, but it is distinctly to be understood that said exposition is illustrative only, and that my invention is not restricted to the particular details recited in the specification or shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of two shakers comprising a first embodiment of my invention, as they appear when separated;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing the shakers of Figure l as they appear when interlocked together for ease in handling;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view as viewed from the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 may be picked up and handled;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of one of the shakers, as taken in section on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a substantially front elevational view of a second embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 7 is a bottom elevational view of one of the shakers shown in Figure 6.

Like reference characters designate like parts in the drawings and in the description thereof following hereafter.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1-5 show two dispensers Ill and H which are shaped to represent figurines of a male and a female rabbit, respectively, and which are especially useful as salt and pepper shakers, although it will be obvious as this exposition proceeds that said dispensers It and II, or modifications thereof, can be used to dispense a large variety of condiments, powders, seasonings, oils, perfumes, and similar materials.

As is best shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of the dispensers I and II includes a head portion I2, an upper torso and neck portion I3, and a lower body portion I4. The portions I2, I3 and I4 are so proportioned and arranged as to provide a concavity in the back of the dispenser Ill and II, this concavity forming the body notch I5. Extending outwardly from the dispenser I0 substantially opposite from the body notch I5, is a pair of limbs I6 and I1. Said limbs I6 and H are so positioned, proportioned and shaped as to be capable of embracing the dispenser II intermediate the head portion I2 thereof, and the outwardly extending limbs I8 and I9 (Figure 3). The limbs I8 and IS in turn are adapted to interlock with the dispenser I0, embracing a complementary body depression formed in the upper torso portion I3 just beneath the limbs I6 and II, respectively. When the limbs i6, II, I8 and I9 are interlocked to complementary portions of the dispensers I0 and II in the manner described, said dispensers I0 and I I cannot move vertically relative to each other, unless they are first disengaged from each other.

Advantageously, the dispensers I0 and II may be readily picked up and carried about safely by placing the thumb 2D and the forefinger 2| in the body notches I5, I formed in the dispensers I0 and II, respectively, and pressing said dispensers together, as shown in Figure 4. By pressing the dispensers Ill and I I together in this manner, the interlocking feature of my invention is insured, so that there is no chance of either of the dispensers I0 and II slipping apart from the other.

Advantageously, the interlocking body protuberances of my invention, as exemplified by the interlocking limbs I6, IT, IS, and I9, need not be positioned or formed with a high degree of accuracy, as would be the ease were a latch mechanism or the like used, since the dispensers may be snugly nested together merely by pressing the assembled set together. Thus, my invention may conveniently be made in ceramics using conventional manufacturing techniques. And as is apparent from the drawings, and Figure 1 in particular, the limbs I5, Ii, I8 and I9 have no apparent function as interlocking members when each of dispensers IE1 and II is viewed separate from the other. Thus, my novel interlocking feature does not detract from the artistic and ornamental appearance of the figurines.

Referring now to Figure 5, the dispenser II) (like the dispenser II) has a hollow interior forming a reservoir 22 for salt, pepperand other condiments, powders, perfumes, etc. The reservoir 22 may be filled in any convenient manner, as for example by means of a filler plug 23 placed in the bottom of the body portion I4. Or the head portion I2 might be threaded onto the upper torso portion I3. Similarly, the material within the reservoir 22 may be dispensed through an outlet placed in any appropriate location on the figurine. Where powder or granular substances are to be dispensed, then a plurality of perforations 24 may be used. Where the dispenser is to be filled with a liquid such as perfume, then other types of outlets may be used to advantage. Advantageously, when the perforations 24 are placed in the back of each of the head portions I2, I2, material can be dispensed separately from each of the dispensers II) and II, even when both are held in the same hand, simply by turning the 'wrist first to one side, and then to the other.

When the wrist is turned in one direction, the perforations 24 in one of the dispensers I0 and I I are down while the corresponding perforations in the other dispenser are up and thus material can flow only from one of the dispensers. When the position of the dispensers I0 and II is reversed, the opposite is of course true.

Advantageously, by providing feet 25 and 26 which extend substantially sidewise of the lower body portion I4, the dispenser II! (or II) is stable against tipping to either side. At the same time, the center of gravity of the dispensers III and II may be placed well forward so that if the dispenser should inadvertently be pushed or jarred with a force sufiicient to knock it over, said dispenser is poised to fall forward onto the limbs I6 and I! (or I8 and I9). Thus, when the perforations 24 are placed in the back of the dispenser I0 (or II) the contents of the reservoir 22 will not be spilled because of this tendency of the dispensers II and I I to fall face downward.

A second useful embodiment of my invention is shown in Figures 6 and 7, this embodiment comprising a pair of dispensers 21 and 28 representing for purposes of ornamentation stylized kangaroos. Like the embodiment in Figures 1-5, the dispensers 21 and 28 each comprise. a head portion 29, an upper torso and neck portion 30, and a lower body portion 3|. Body notches 32 are provided substantially opposite the outstretched limbs 33, the limbs 33 being so positioned and contoured as to provide the novel interlocking action described above. In addition, and in keeping with the specie of animal shown, the dispensers 21 and 28 are each provided with a representation of a baby kangaroo, indicated by the numeral 34. Advantageously, each of the baby kangaroos 34 includes a pair of outstretched limbs 35 which act to provide an additional interlocking action between the dispensers 21 and 28.

As best shown in Figure 7, each of the dispensers 21 and 28 is provided with a pair of feet 36, 36 which extend substantially sidewise of the lower body portion 3|. In addition, the tail 31 is utilized to provide a safeguard against tipping the dispenser 21 over on its back, in which position material would be discharged through the perforations (not shown) in the back of the head portion 29 corresponding to the perforations 24 of Figures 1-5. Because of this feature, there is even less likelihood of accidental spillage from the dispensers 2'! and 28 than is the case in the first embodiment described.

Many useful variations and modifications of devices shown in the drawings will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art. Thus for example, the same interlocking principle may be used for sets containing more than two dispensers, as for example representations of such fairytale favorites as the Three Little Pigs. Again it is unnecessary that the body notch be as well defined as that shown in the drawings. While this feature is desired, especially since it may be integrated with the dispenser as an anatomical configuration, and since it makes for easier grasping and handling of the dispensers as a unit, useful devices can still be obtained merely by providing a surface substantially opposite the interlocking limbs or other body protuberances which facilitates pressing the dispensers together.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention and demonstrated its utility by reference to specific dispenser sets embodying its principle, I claim:

A set of dispensers for salt, pepper and the like, comprising: two figurines each comprising a head portion, an upper body portion and a lower body 5 6 portion, a, pair of rigid limbs extending outwardly from each of said upper body portions and REFERENCES CITED shaped and positioned to embrace the upper body The following references are of record in the portion of the other figurine and to engage the fil f this patent: limbs of the other figurine, each of said figurines 5 having a body notch in the back thereof substan- UNITED STATES PATENTS tially opposite said pair of limbs and integrated Number Name Date with said figurine as an anatomical configuration D. 11,293 Hobbs July 8, 1879 and adapted to engage each other at at least one D. 49,034 Laskey May 9, 1916 point in addition to the points of engagement of 10 D. 50,907 Frishman June 12, 1917 the limbs, each of said figurines being further D. 62,214 Bongirno Apr. 17, 1923 characterized by a hollow interior and at least D. 105,802 Manske Aug. 24, 1937 one opening in the back of said head portion D. 155,255 Wolf Sept. 13, 1949 through which the contents of said interior may 268,388 Collins Dec. 5, 1882 be dispensed, each of said lower portions includ- 15 901,388 Schulze Oct. 20, 1908 ing a filler plug whereby said interior may be 1,028,096 Bowman June 4, 1912 filled. 1,799,584 Eltag Apr. 7, 1931 RUTH VAN TELLINGEN BENDEL. 

